The List
1) The ArtistHands down my favorite movie of the year, there was no hemming and hawing like in 2010. It was the most magical experience I had at the movies. When I heard about The Artist, it sounded like a clever idea that I didn't know if they could keep up for an hour and a half for today's audiences. I could not have been more wrong. Excellently written and directed, it still would not work without the charisma of its two stars, Jean Dujardin (who looks poised to, deservedly, win the Best Actor trophy) and Berenice Bejo, both of whom simply exude charm and dare you not to fall in love with them. Ultimately, it serves as a love letter to movies that reminds you just why you go to the theater. Hopefully, it will become the second silent film to win Best Picture (and the first since the very first Oscar ceremony). And I didn't even mention Uggie!
2) Warrior
This movie just kept climbing its way up my list until it got here and I just couldn't justify putting any of the other movies below above it. I think this is without a doubt the most underrated movie of the year. Nick Nolte has gotten the most acting recognition thus far (and he's great in it), but this movie is on the backs of Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton. And they're amazing. Warrior is an incredible examination of the broken relationships between a father and his sons, all of whom you can relate to. And it does that by being a rad inspirational sports movie, complete with david vs. goliath, a getting-better-montage, and a sweet use of Beethoven. What I'm saying is go see it. 'Cause, based on its box-office take, I know you didn't.
3) Beginners
Man, I loved this movie. Another tale of fathers and sons, though a slightly less troubled relationship than those in the aforementioned film. Christopher Plummer is amazing, and should win the Oscar in a walk. Ewan McGregor is also great as the man re-examining his life after his elderly father comes out of the closet and tells him he has terminal cancer. Doesn't exactly sound like a light-hearted romp, but it's far more a celebration of life than the depressing tale that synopsis could lead you to believe it is. Quirky storytelling featuring an out of order timeline and a talking dog lead to a super enjoyable experience at the movies.
4) Hugo 3-D
To quote my sister, "I think my heart just grew three sizes." Martin Scorcese goes against type and proves that he is just a phenomenal story teller, no matter what the subject matter. The best use of 3-D I have seen, you just get completely drawn into the world Scorcese created. Like the Artist, this pays homage to films of a different era and really reminds you about the magic of film that can sometimes get lost in our oversaturated, CGI world.
5) Bridesmaids
Best comedy of the year. So many dumb things have been said about how this proves women can be funny (seriously? You needed that to be proven?), but what I love about it is how it manages to be hilarious while still dealing with some pretty serious issues in female relationships. And Melissa McCarthy provides the knockout performance.
6) Pariah
I'm still trying to recover from the Oscar snub of Adepero Oduye (more on that below). She is incredible in this story of a young woman struggling with issues of sexuality, family, and heartbreak. One of those powerful movies that manages to pack the emotional punch without leaving you completely depressed, which seems to be a rarity these days.
7) Shame
Prior to seeing Pariah, this was the Oscar snub I was most upset about. Michael Fassbender had a hell of a year (see #8, among others), but nothing quite compares to his performance as a man dealing with a sex addiction in Shame. Unfortunately, it seems the Academy couldn't quite get over the full frontal nudity (most of the conversation seems to be about some of Michael Fassbender's other, um, parts) enough to recognize the performance. Carey Mulligan is fantastic as well, but this is all Fassbender.
8) Jane Eyre
Michael Fassbender again. What are you gonna do? This was a great retelling of one of my all-time favorite stories. All the acting is top notch, and it managed to capture the gothic feeling of the era better than any film version that I've ever seen. Apparently it's really creepy to live in a gigantic castle without things like electricity, who would have guessed? The filmmakers do a good job with a jumbled timeline to keep it fresh, and despite my initial question upon seeing the trailer for this movie, yes we DID need another version of Jane Eyre.
9) (tie) The Descendants/Take Shelter
Hard to talk about both of these movies at once because they are very different, but I couldn't decide upon ordering, so I pulled out our bylaws allowed tie...
The Descendants features possibly George Clooney's best performance to date and walks the line between the tragic and the ridiculous beautifully. Shailene Woodley is a breakout as Clooney's oldest daughter, and even Matthew Lillard manages to not screw it up (remember that guy??). An excellent use of place, with Hawaii serving as an additional character. Just an all around well-done movie.
Take Shelter is one of those movies that just sticks with you long after you've seen it. A story about a man with apocalyptic visions who isn't sure whether the storm's coming, or whether he's suffering a mental breakdown. Michael Shannon is outstanding, and Jessica Chastain delivers one of the many performances she should have been nominated for instead of the Help.
10) Drive
Not at all what I expected, this stylistic movie was so different from anything else I've seen that it really stood out. Ryan Gosling turned in the best of his three great performances this year, and Albert Brooks is just awesome as the bad guy. Featuring the best soundtrack of the year and the sweetest blood spattered scorpion jacket you've ever seen.
If only there was a top 15...
The Interrupters, A Better Life, Melancholia, X-Men: First Class, A Separation
Honorable mentions:
50/50; Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey; Captain America: The First Avenger; Carbon Nation; The Company Men; Crazy, Stupid Love; The Debt; The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore; The Guard; The Help; The Ides of March; La Luna; Margin Call; Martha, Marcy, May, Marlene; Midnight in Paris; Mission Impossible 4: Ghost Protocol; Moneyball; The Muppets; Page One: Inside the New York Times; Super 8; Young Adult
Special mention for movie that I loved and hated (but mostly hated): Tree of Life- why couldn't I just watch Brad Pitt and Jessica Chastain (both of whom are fantastic) with their family? Did I have to see the creation of the world (yes, it was beautiful, and, no, it made no freaking sense), dinosaurs, and whispered voice-overs instead of characters talking to each other???
Eligible movies seen: 66
Best Actor: Michael Fassbender- Shame
Runner Up: Jean Dujardin- The Artist
Best Actress: Adepero Oduye- Pariah
Runner Up: Kirsten Dunst- Melancholia
Best Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer- Beginners
Runner Up: Albert Brooks- Drive
Best Supporting Actress: Berenice Bejo- The Artist
Runner Up: Melissa McCarthy- Bridesmaids
The Extras...
Dude I fell in love with this year: easiest part of this entire top ten- this one goes to Michael Fassbender all the way. He had me at Jane Eyre, and then was the best part about X-Men, good in a pretty snooze-worthy A Dangerous Method, and blew me away with Shame. Not a bad 2011.
Would have easily won if Fassbender didn't exist: Jean Dujardin
Gal I fell in love with this year: Almost went to Jessica Chastain for pure numbers- I mean, Tree of Life, Take Shelter, The Debt, The Help... and those are just the ones I saw, she was in another 3 this year. But, ultimately, the overall wonder of The Artist and Berenice Bejo just out-charmed her.
Stupidest Oscar Snub: A three-way tie recognizing Adepero Oduye for Pariah, Michael Fassbender for Shame, and The Interrupters for Best Documentary (Seriously? How can you possibly justify that, Academy??)
Genre of the Year: FINALLY! I've wanted to give this to my favorite genre forever, but generally the movies just aren't good enough. But inspirational sports movies for the win! This is all about Warrior, but Moneyball gives it enough back up support, and, frankly, Real Steel was a lot of fun. So there.
Superhero Movie of the Year: A lot of entertainment in this area this year, but X-Men: First Class wins in a walk
Most Improved: 3-D. After a couple of dismal over-saturated years of 3-D, we had several stellar examples of how the technology can be used for good with Hugo and Pina (which I really didn't love as a movie, but was a beautiful way to watch dance on film)
The "Up in the Air" Award for Critically Acclaimed Movie That Can Suck It: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. I'm sorry. I know that everyone in the world apparently loved this movie (except for my fellow 3pies4rolls-ers). But I could not have been more bored. And if one more person tries to say that that's because I must not have understood it or I must have just been expecting a Mission Impossible-style thriller I will punch them in the face (or at least do it in my head). I got it. I know it was supposed to be slow. But there's a difference between "slow" and "boring". I think this fell in the latter category. Which particularly upsets me given the number of great actors (and good performances) in the movie. I didn't hate it nearly as much as I hated the namesake of this award or its prior winner (I still hate you TKAAR), but it did make me feel like I was taking crazy pills to hear everyone talk about how great it is.
Internet Video of the Year: Liam Neeson tries his hand at comedy. It goes as well as you'd expect.
Runner Up: Drunk History's Twas the Night Before Christmas
Best Thing About the Movies this Year: As always, watching them with Nanc and kt and frozen junior mints. Oh, and this little fella. And blogging for you fine people. Thanks for reading!
Phew--I've been waiting for your lists! Yours is more closely aligned to mine, which remains in my head. :)
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